A retired Royal Navy pilot who took a chance and drove home after he had been drinking ended up writing off his vintage car in the process.

John Adams swerved to avoid another vehicle and collided with a rock face on the side of the road, flipping his 1966 Morris Minor onto its side in Milborne Port.

He was catapulted out of the vehicle onto the road and miraculously escaped serious injury but later failed a blood test which showed he was over the drink drive limit.

Adams, 68, of Old Tannery Way, Milborne Port, pleaded guilty to driving a Morris 1000 on Sherborne Road after consuming excess alcohol on June 24.

The case was heard at Yeovil Magistrates Court

Somerset Magistrates, sitting at Yeovil, were told that the police were called to the scene of a collision at 11.15pm on Sherborne Road in Milborne Port where they found the Morris 1000 on its side.

“Adams was being treated by paramedics and he told the officers that he had been drinking that evening and failed a breath test at the roadside but was then taken to hospital for treatment,” said prosecutor Emma Lennon.

“Whilst there a blood specimen was taken and the reading was 100mlg of alcohol in 100ml of blood. The legal limit is 80mlg of alcohol.”

On the night in question Adams had been out for dinner with an old friend at the Officers Mess at RNAS Yeovilton and decided to drive home after his mobile phone signal went and he couldn’t get a taxi.

He then went to a friend’s house and had another glass of wine and then took the decision to get into the car and drive home.

“He has said he will never touch a drop of alcohol again if he has to drive anywhere,” added Miss Donaldson.

The magistrates banned Adams from driving for 12 months and fined him £335 with £85 costs and a £33 victim surcharge.